Reversible turbine driven oral hygiene apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 31, 1962 G. R. LEDINGHAM ETAL.

REVERSIBLE TURBINE DRIVEN ORAL HYGIENE APPARATUS Filed June 20, 1960 July 3l, 1962 3,046,585

REVERSIBLE TURBINE DRIvEN ORAL HYGIENE APPARATUS G. R. LEDINGHAM ETAL V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 20, 1960 GORDON R. LEDINGHAM WILBERT V. CARTER IRVIN OLSON t 3,046,555 REVERSIBLE TURBINE DRIVEN GRALL HYGIENE APPARATUS Gordon R. Ledingham, 1795 La .l olla Rancho Road, and

Wilbert V. Carter, 1640 La Jolla Rancho Road, both of La Jolla, Calif., and Irvin Olson, 4173 Altadena, San Diego, Calif.

Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,127 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-24) The present invention relates `generally to dental equipment and more particularly to reversible, turbine driven oral hygiene apparatus.

The primary object of this invention is to provide oral hygiene apparatus to drive tooth brushes, polishers and similar dental attachments, the apparatus being powered by a turbine driven by water from a conventional faucet and the turbine having easily operated reversing and shutoif means.

Anotherlobject of this invention is to provide oral hygiene apparatus having a basic drive unit with interchangeable shields and tool yattachments for sanitary purposes, so that the apparatus can be used by several persons. Y

Another object of this invention is to provide oral hygiene apparatus in which a small amount of the water used to `drive the turbine is conducted to the tool holding portion for oral lubrication.

A further object of this invention is to provide oral hygiene apparatus which is comfortable tohold and is easily operable 'with one hand.

Still another object of this invention is to provide oral hygiene apparatus having a minimum ofparts, the major portion of the structure being suitable Ifor manufacture from molded plastic material for purposes of economy.

Finally, it is an object to provide oral hygiene apparatus of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and maintain and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects denitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter Kfully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of the apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged lfragmentary sectional view, similar to a portion of FIGURE l, showing the tool attachment; t

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is -a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7'is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation view of the apparatus, as taken from the left end of FIGURE 2, with the shield removed.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specication and throughout the views of the drawings.

The apparatus comprises a drive unit l0 and a shield assembly 12, which is interchangeable with other, similar shield assemblies for use by several individuals. The drive unit 10 includes -a short, generally cylindrical casing 14 to which is attached an axially extending bearing sleeve 16, said bearing sleeve having a large, screw thread- "Ilia ed rear end plug 18 which screws into one end of said casing, the end plug being provided with a radially extending flange 20 which bears against said casing and seals the connection. `In the center of the end plug 18 is a boss 22 carrying a rearbearing 24 which supports one end of a freely rotatable, tubular drive shaft 26, the other end of said drive shaft being held in a front bearing 28 formed in the outer end of bearing sleeve 16.

Fixed to inner end of -drive shaft 26 is a turbine 30 having an imperforate front plate 32 adjacent the bearing 24, said lfront plate having an axially extending rim 34 in which are two axially spaced rings of ducts 36 and 38, the rear face of the turbine being substantially open so that the turbine 30 has the general shape of a single cup centrally lattached to the drive shaft 26. The rear end of the casing 14 is enclosed by aback plate 4t]` having an axially outwardly projecting hub 42, said hub containing a central inlet pipe 44 and a concentric outlet pipe 46, said outlet pipe communicating with the open inner portion of the `turbine 30 through an arcuate outlet 48 in the back plate. The inlet pipe 44 connects with an inlet duct Si) extending across the outside of back plate '40 to a valve housing S2 integral with the casing 14 at the periphery thereof, said housing containing `a cylindrical valve barrel 54 rotatable about an axis parallel to the axis of drive shaft 26. The rear end of the barrel 54 has a deep socket 56 provided with a radial port 58. The casing 1.4 has a pair of plenum chambers `titl and 62 extending circumferentially around portions of the turbine 30 and separated from the turbine by an inner wall 64, said plenum chambers being connected to the inside of valve housing -52 by transfer ports 66 and y68 which are disposed to be aligned selectively with the port 58. The plenum chamber 60 has a plurality of nozzles 70 `drilled angularly through the inner wall 64 in alignment with the ring of ducts 36, while the plenum chamber 62 has a plurality of similar nozzles 72 aligned with the ring of ducts 3S.

The lforward ducts 36 are -angularly disposed in one direction relative to the radius of turbine 30, each being peripherally elongated at the outside of rim 34 and changingV to a substantially circular opening on the inside of said rim, although the shape may be changed somewhat according .to requirements. The nozzles 70 are angularly disposed to direct uid into the ducts 36 at the -most effective angle for propulsion. The reverse ducts 38 are shaped similarly to the ducts 36, but are angularly disposed in the opposite direction, the nozzles 72 being similarly turned to direct propulsive fluid lto the reverse ducts.

Fitted into thefforward end of the valve barrel 54 is a stud 74 which is axially slidable but non-rotatable in the valve barrel, said stud being illustrated as rectangular in cross section in FIGURE 7. Fixed to the stud 74 is a plunger 76 extending axially through the socket Se and having a valve element 73 on the rear end thereof`1 said valve element seatingon the open end of the valve barrel 54 to shut oli the socket from the inlet duct 50 as in FIGURE 2. Inside the socket S6 is a spring 8( normally biasing the valve element 7S rearwardly t( leave the socket open. Pivotally attached to the forwarc` end of the stud 74 is a-lever 82 having a cam portior 84 which engages the end of lthe valve barrel 54. Whel the lever 82 is extended axially forwardly, the valve ele ment 78 is disposed rearwardly to open the socket `56, a` indicated in broken line in FIGURE 2, this being the o1 position of the Valve. When the lever 82 is swung out wardly, the cam portion 84 is shaped to pull the stu: 74 forwardly to close the valve element78, this bein; the oi position indicated in full line in FIGURE 2.

In the on position, the lever 8,2 can be moved t either sideY to rotate the valve barrel 54 about its axi and bring the port 58Y into alignment with either the transfer port `66, as in FIGURE 4, or the transfer port 68, as in FIGURE 5. To ensure proper port alignment, the forward end of valve barrel 54 has a radially protruding stop 86 which rides in a recessed arcuate slot 88 in the casing 14, as illustrated in FIGURE 7, the ends of said slot limiting the valve barrel travel.

Propulsive iluid for the drive unit is obtained from a conventional water faucet or tap, not shown, which is connected to the inlet pipe 44 by a flexible inlet hose 90 of suitable length. Water is exhausted through a ilexible outlet hose 92 fitted over the outlet pipe 46 and concentrically enclosing the inlet hose 90, the end of said outlet hose being open adjacent a suitable drain. By having the inlet and outlet hoses concentric, the inconvenience of double hoses and their entanglement is avoided. Also, by installing the driving means within the hand held piece itself, long flexible drive shafts are eliminated.

The forward end of drive shaft 26- projects beyond the end of the bearing sleeve 16 and is fitted with an internal bushing 94 having `longitudinal bypass grooves 96 in the inner bore thereof. A variety of tools may be used with the drive unit 10, the brush 98 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3 being but one example, said brush having a stern 100 which is a press fit in the bushing 94 for frictional driving connection. Other examples of tools are tonguebrushes, polishers, grinding wheels or similar small devices.

For hygiene and protective purposes, the bearing sleeve 16 4and tool are covered by the shield -assembly 12, which includes a shield sleeve 102 shaped to ft closely over the bearing sleeve with a light press lit, the end of said shield sleeve having a tool cover 104 fixed thereto. The tool cover 104 has a longitudinally extending, generally semicylindrical shield plate 106 which encloses one side of the brush 98, or other tool, leaving only a portion of the tool exposed. Thus the brush 98 can be used on the teeth inside the mouth without laceration of the skin inside the mouth.

In use, the casing is held in the palm of one hand and the lever 82 is actuated by the thumb, the lever being moved to the on position and then turned to one side or the other to actuate the turbine 30 in the desired direction of rotation. The movement required is slight and operation is very simple, starting, reversal and shut-olf being extremely rapid. With the arrangement of turbine and nozzles illustrated, the apparatus is operable with a minimum of water pressure and there is no high velocity efflux of Water to cause splashing.

Due to the Working clearance between the turbine 30 and the back plate 40, a slight leakage of water occurs into the drive shaft 26, the water owing through the bypass grooves 96 and around the tool being used, so providing flushing water in the working area of the brush and preventing ingress of germs around the tool shaft 100.

For economical purposes, several individuals may use a single drive unit 10 by each having a separate shield assembly 12, which completely covers the orally contacting portions of the apparatus. The shield assembly 12 can be made in contrasting colors for identification purposes if desired.

Except for the drive shaft 26, spring 80 and plunger 76, all of the components of the apparatus may be made from molded plastic material, resulting in a very low cost structure.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and the above recited objects. It will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

It is understood that minor variations from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings, are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

We claim:

l. Oral hygiene apparatus, comprising: a hand held drive unit having an elongated casing; a drive shaft rotatively mounted in said casing and extending axially thereof; a reversibleturbine connected directly to one end of said drive shaft within said casing; said turbine having an imperforate front plate with an axially extending rim on the periphery of said front plate and having a plurality of inclined ducts extending through said rim, said ducts being positioned to form two axially-spaced circumferential rings, the ducts of one ring being inclined from the radial in the opposite direction to the ducts of the other ring; valve means operatively mounted adjacent said turbine to direct uid to each of said rings of ducts selectively; a source of pressurized uid connected to said valve means; said casing having a fluid outlet communicating with said turbine; the other end of said drive shaft having a tool holding portion; said `drive shaft being hollow and having an open end adjacent said outlet to conduct a portion of the fluid therefrom to the tool holding portion.

2. Oral hygiene apparatus, comprising: a hand held drive unit having an elongated casing; a bearing sleeve extending axially from said casing; a drive shaft freely rotatably mounted in said bearing sleeve; a reversible turbine fixed to said drive shaft and enclosed in said casing; said turbine having an imperforate front plate with an annular rim thus defining the general shape of a single cup disposed coaxially with said drive shaft, and a generally open central portion; said rim having a plurality of inclined ducts communicating with said central portion, said ducts being positioned to form two axially-spaced circumferential rings, the ducts in the different rings being angularly inclined, relative to the radial, in opposite directions; valve means operatively mounted externally of said turbine to direct fluid inwardly to each of said rings of ducts selectively; a pressurized fluid inlet connected to said Valve means; said casing having `a fluid outlet communicating with the inner portion of said turbine; the other end of said drive shaft having a tool holding portion.

3. Oral hygiene apparatus, comprising: a hand held drive unit having an elongated casing; a bearing sleeve extending axially from said casing; a drive shaft freely rotatably mounted in said bearing sleeve; a reversible turbine fixed to said drive shaft and enclosed in said casing; said turbine having an imperforate front plate with an annular rim thus .defining the general shape of a single cup disposed coaxially with said drive shaft, and a generally open central portion; said rim having a plurality of inclined ducts communicating with said central portion, said ducts being positioned to form two axiallyspaced circumferential rings, the ducts in the diiferent rings being angularly inclined, relative to the radial, in opposite direction; said casing having a pair of plenum chambers each extending around a considerable portion of the circumference of said turbine, andeach having a plurality of nozzles disposed to direct uid simultaneously to a plurality of ducts in one of said rings-of ducts; valve means operatively mounted between said plenum chambers to direct iluid to said chambers selectively; a pressurized Huid inlet connected to said valve means; said casing having a fluid outlet communicating with the inner portion of said turbine; the other end of said drive shaft having a tool holding portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,967 Alford Ian. 27, 1903 890,709 Richwood June 16, 1908 1,210,962 McLaughlin et al Ian. 2, 1917 1,228,897 Frame `Tune 5, 1917 1,641,494 Joseph Sept. 6, 1927 1,922,238 Freed Aug. 15, 1933 2,492,966 Okola Ian. 3, 1950 

